Faith Voices Lead Briefing on Religious Support for Abortion Services

Coalition supports access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare services

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholics for Choice, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, in coalition with more than a dozen faith-based organizations, will participate in a briefing today on Capitol Hill to highlight religious support for access to a comprehensive range of reproductive healthcare services. At issue are two bills that would seriously restrict women's rights to access safe and affordable abortion services in the U.S. The two bills, the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" (S. 906/H.R. 3) and the "Protect Life Act" (S. 877/H.R. 358), which have been introduced in the House and Senate by anti-choice members of Congress, would directly infringe upon a woman's ability to make conscience-based decisions about the healthcare services she wishes to access.

The presentations at the briefing will show that religious voices across many different faiths support access to a comprehensive range of reproductive health services. The briefing clarified that among people of faith, large majorities do not want Congress interfering in the private decisions individuals make about reproductive healthcare services.

Sara Hutchinson, Director for Domestic Programs at Catholics for Choice, will emphasize the fact that Catholics support healthcare that is both accessible and comprehensive. "Despite the best efforts of the U.S. bishops to claim otherwise, large majorities of Catholic voters support access to and coverage for abortions in private- or government-run health systems. The Catholic social justice tradition encourages us to advocate for the poor, and our intellectual tradition requires our respect for the conscience-based decisions people make about their lives, including decisions about reproductive health."

Also speaking at the briefing are Deborah Swerdlow, Eisendrath Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Amy J. Cotton, Legislative Associate at the National Council of Jewish Women, and Nicolette Paterson of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Background materials about this briefing are available on request. For more information on this briefing and other issues please email [email protected].

Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women's well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of women and men to make moral decisions about their lives.

SOURCE Catholics for Choice